Check out this 2000 35 Lightning
 

89K for a 2000 lightning sitting on a 2001 trailer?

Is that for real? If that boat is in good condition it seems like a crazy good deal.


http://www.offshoreonlyclassifieds.c...o20539-en.html

Guess not, here's a 2001 for 85K. Seems like just a few years ago these boats were going for $150K. Looks like there are some really motivated sellers out there.

http://www.offshoreonlyclassifieds.c...o21065-en.html

Both have been on for some time now, price has been comming down. If they are in good condition they are not bad deals for someone. The 500 boats seem to be not as desirable now that the 525s are becoming so popular. Not that the 500s are bad as long as you tend to the valve train and valve spring issues, which can be a pain in the butt.

The 2001 claims to be fresh water. Maybe it's pretty rough up close.

Both boats are in good condition The one from mass is a local boat on Winni the family has a few boats 1 is a formula (Dads Boat) and the fountain Belongs to the son and has been maintained by the old Fountain dealer on the lake .. as for the one in Cali..... maybee one from NH Soon:D:grinser010:

they both look like beautiful boats..

The 2000 Mass boat looks like it stays in the water. Pretty good scum line on it (you can see it in the running shot).

Both have been on for some time now, price has been comming down. If they are in good condition they are not bad deals for someone. The 500 boats seem to be not as desirable now that the 525s are becoming so popular. Not that the 500s are bad as long as you tend to the valve train and valve spring issues, which can be a pain in the butt.

What valve spring problems? I have HP500efi motors when should the valve train be checked?

Depends who you ask, lots for different opinions on this subject. The old 500 hp had valve spring problems.

Merc recomends servicing the valve train at 250 hrs +/- and checking the springs. Problem is they can check fine today and take a chit tpomorow, drop a valve and take out the motor. You can look thru the umpteen threads on here about it and ponder for days on end over what you should, or just take them out and toss them at 200 hrs, replace them with some high quality springs and be on your merry way. One of my 500's dropped a valve at 167 hrs and between the two engines 20+ springs out of 32 were broken. For what it's worth, springs are considerably cheaper than pistons and major overhauls, that is pretty much a fact.